You all have probably heard a freestyle at least once in your life. So surely with Hot 97, LA Leakers, etc. people don't think they're actually coming up with these rhymes off the top right? Why do rappers and the hosts pretend the artists are freestyling when they're not? Has the term 'freestyle' just become synonymous with 'spit a verse without preparation' rather than improvising off the top of the head?
In my opinion, artists like Harry Mack, Juice Wrld, etc. who can go on for a long time and improvise, THAT is proper freestyle rap.
2 questions for any listeners:
- What's an all-time great freestyle? (No wrong answers!)
- Is there a difference between 'freestyle' rapping and pre-writtens?
To Answer Your Questions
1. Yes, a freestyle is real and authentic. Comes from the brain; that's why it's labeled "Off the top" or "Off the dome". Some are better than others because some people are more quick witted when it comes to words and have better and a more extensive vocabulary to be able to pull it off. Freestyling is real and a good talent to possess.
2. Yes, Big difference. Freestyling is off the top (as stated aforementioned). Let's use an example. You're creating a song, and you just go into it with no prior planning and just say what comes to mind first; that would be freestyling. While doing it, you may mess up so you stop. If you think of the next line and then say the line, it's still freestyling, If you want to think ahead so you write multiple lines down, it's no longer a freestyle because the lyrics are in front of you to jog your memory, making it written. Pre-written is having a song or verse and its structure before ever laying a vocal.
Hope this is clear and concise!
What's your favourite freestyle clip/session you can share? All time though, off the top! Not stringing together writtens, even though there are too many good so-called 'freestyles' out there that are actually just are heavily pre-written.
